For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:35-37.
The Lord Jesus … lifts up His voice to break the spell of infatuation upon human minds and asks the momentous question, “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” …
Disease and death are in our world, and how little we know when our individual probation shall end. . . . How many, if now called to render up their accounts, would do it with grief, regret, and remorse that their God-given probationary time was so fully employed in self-serving! The eternal interests of the soul have been fearfully neglected for unimportant affairs. The mind is kept busy, just as Satan designs it shall be, with selfish interests and nothing of any consequence, and time may be passing into eternity without a fitting up for heaven at all.
What can be compared with the loss of a human soul? It is a question which every soul must determine for himself–whether to gain the treasures of eternal life or to lose all because of his neglect to make God and His righteousness his first and only business. Jesus, the world’s Redeemer,… looks with grief upon the large number of those who profess to be Christians who are not serving Him but themselves. They scarcely think of eternal realities, notwithstanding He calls their attention to the rich reward awaiting the faithful who will serve Him with their undivided affections. He brings eternal realities within the range of their vision. He bids them to count the cost now of being an obedient and faithful follower of Christ, and says, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).
He would have every individual sense his responsibility to so use his precious time here in this world that it will be fruitful daily in good works. This is the only worthy aim of every living mortal–to employ his God-given faculties with endless results in view.
That I May Know Him p. 221
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray for the following evangelistic meetings: • San Francisco, CA (Dec 20 – 29) Ernest Lewis • Meridian, MS (Jan 10 – Feb 8) Richard Halverson • Palmetto, FL (Apr 4– May 4, 2014) with Scott Moore and LIFE team • Westminster SC Seventh Day Adventist Church-Ouachia Hills College students have been here for three weeks canvassing and searching for Bible study interests. We already have 26 requests and we need prayers for the Holy Spirit to guide us as members of our small church, who have never given a Bible study, go out to do God’s work! Diane
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Dear Friends,
We have been talking about having a family vacation this coming summer. We are looking forward to spending time with all of our children and not just one or the other like we usually do. We each have suggested one place or another, but we have finally decided that using Brian and Esther’s house for “home base” and making various day trips would be the best for our finances. Even though we have changed our destination numerous times, vacation plans are often in our thoughts and in our conversation. We have been pouring over maps and looking at places on the Internet deciding where we will go, what we will do while there, etc.
Just so, there is a soon-coming event that all the world is rushing toward. This event will bring much more joy to those who are ready than vacationing with our children ever could. It will be a “vacation” beyond our fondest expectations. Paul speaks of this grand and glorious time, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ hall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thes 4:16,17 “Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1Cor 15:51-58
Yes, Jesus is coming very soon! His coming is nearer than any of us realize, “even at the doors.” Matt 24:33 All the prophecies foretelling that great event are rapidly fulfilling! Does this great event occupy our thoughts? Does it control our actions? Do we anticipate our Dear Saviour’s coming with more anticipated joy than thinking about vacationing with our children? Do we love to speak of the time when all who are in the graves shall hear the voice of the Lifegiver and shall come forth to glorious immortality? (John 5:28,29) Think of it! We will see our loved ones again! We will again fellowship with those snatched from us by death. When Jesus comes, mothers will receive their little ones who were wrenched from their grasp by the enemy. When Jesus comes, our sorrows will vanish, our joys will be “new every morning” because He is full of compassion and love for us. Do we share this good news with those around us, that they, too, may be ready to meet the Lord?
May we give diligence to make our calling and election sure, that we may be ready for that great event. (2 Peter 1:10) May we so live that we can with joy exclaim, “the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king.” Isa 33:22 May we invite this same loving, compassionate Friend to dwell on the throne of our hearts that someday soon we may look up and say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isa 5:9
Rose